Top 5 Drinks You Should Avoid to Protect Your Teeth
You may not be able to function without your cup of Joe in the morning, but there’s more to think about when you reach for that caffeine fix than how much energy it’s going to give you. Many drinks that you might enjoy every day could be harming your teeth, either by staining them or by eroding them slowly.
It’s important that you understand the effect that certain drinks can have and how you can strike a balance that will protect your teeth while allowing you to occasionally enjoy your favorite beverage. Here are the top five drinks you should try to avoid to protect your teeth, with some information about how to protect your teeth if you insist on indulging:
Soda
A lot of people love the cold and refreshing taste of a fizzy and sweet soda that also comes with a shot of energizing caffeine. The trouble is that regular sodas are full of sugar, which is bad for your health and bad for your teeth. The sugars can linger on your teeth for a long time after you drink a soda, which can decay the enamel on your teeth and lead to problems like cavities and more serious issues.
The best thing to do is to cut soda out entirely. However, if you have to have it, just be sure that you brush your teeth or use mouthwash when you are done. Don’t let those sugars sit on your teeth. If you can’t do that, the least you can do is drink water to wash away some of those sugars.
Juice
Maybe you’re patting yourself on the back because you never fell prey to soda’s charms and you drink juice instead, which is chock full of vitamins and minerals that are good for your health. While juice may have more nutritional benefits than soda, it is just as harmful to your teeth because it often has just as much sugar, if not more in some cases. Cut down on your juice intake, and always follow up with brushing or rinsing to protect your teeth. You would do even better to replace your juice with actual fruits and vegetables, which offer even more nutritional benefits and don’t have the same concentration of sugar.
Coffee
Most people cannot fathom getting through a day without a hot cup of coffee (or ten). But drinking coffee every day, and especially multiple times a day, can seriously stain your teeth to a point that you may not be able to fully correct. Those strong beans can leave behind a strong color, as well, and AZ whitening treatments can only lift so many shades of discoloration from your teeth. If you continue to drink coffee or fail to take action early enough to save your smile, you may experience permanent discoloration.
Coffee is also an acidic drink that can wear away at the enamel of your teeth. It’s best to cut out coffee and look for other ways to get your energy fix, like daily exercise or improved sleep.
Alcohol and Liquor
Beer, wine, and liquor are all harmful to your teeth, as well as your body. Red wines and darker beers and liquors can stain your teeth, and any kind of alcohol or liquor can wear away the enamel of your teeth. If you like mixed drinks, you will be compounding the problem for your teeth with sugary and acidic mixers.
If you can’t eliminate your alcohol consumption, you should limit it as much as you can and follow up with appropriate oral care.
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks may rely on a lot of caffeine to give you that promised jolt, but they are also packed with sugar. Like other sugary drinks such as soda and juice, energy drinks can erode your teeth and cause serious long-term problems. Always follow an energy drink with a glass of water, then wait about 30 minutes to brush or rinse with mouth wash.
The best thing you can do for your teeth is to eliminate all these drinks from your diet or to keep them only as occasional indulgences. However, if you just can’t go without, make sure you are following proper dental hygiene to minimize the risk of oral issues, and see your Glendale dentist regularly to discover and treat any issues at their earliest stages.
Aesthetic Dentistry of Arrowhead offers a range of services to help you keep your smile healthy and beautiful. For example, if you have staining from coffee or other sources, we offer whitening treatments that can help restore your smile and maybe even make it look better than before. Our other services include braces, implants, bridges, and more to help correct your smile and make it look as good as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic dental services or to schedule a consultation with one of our trusted and experienced cosmetic dentists.
17100 N 67th Ave, Suite 500
Glendale, Arizona 85308
Phone: (623) 979-1515
Fax: (623) 878-1811
Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm
Website: https://www.drgregceyhan.com
